The Parish Blossoms

In the late 1950's, the cathedral was completely redecorated, retaining its beauty in its simplicity. Two copies of classic paintings of the Transfiguration and the Assumption of Mary were placed above the side altar alcoves, a new Bishop's throne was installed and wooden paneling was placed across the rear of the sanctuary.

In 1965, the old church, which had served as a gymnasium for St. Mary's School, was torn down and in 1973, St. Mary's School was closed in favor of Central Catholic High. In the same year, two new parishes were formed in Grand Island. St. Leo's was established in the southwest part of the city with former families from St. Mary's as the nucleus. Resurrection parish was established in the northwestern part of the city.

In 1976, a wheelchair ramp was constructed at the south side door of the cathefral and, due to the demise of the old furnace, new heating plants were installed in the cathedral and the school building. At that time central air conditioning was also added in the cathedral and the church was completely rewired.

A new honor was conferred on July 15, 1982, when the State Historic Preservation Office announced that St. Mary's Cathedral had been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was placed there because of its architecture—it is a late Gothic Revival style modeled after the Parisian cathedral La Sainte Chapelle—and the parish's importance in the establishment of the community.

The idea of getting the building in the Register came from a member of the congregation in 1979. At that time, they asked the state to sponsor their application to the National Historical Society. A change of administration and new rules in 1980 put a wrinkle in the plan for a time, but it was eventually ironed out.

The cathedral underwent exterior and interior refurbishing in 1985-86. Roof repairs with new gutters and downspouts were made. In those same years, the interior of the cathedral was completely redecorated, new carpeting installed under the pews and the old confessionals were remodeled to provide for face-to-face confessions. Repairs were also made on the convent building. All was in anticipation of November 22, 1987, on which date the Diocese of Grand Island celebrated its 75th anniversary.

In August of 2001, the old St. Mary's School was torn down to make room for a new social hall. When built, the hall will have classrooms, dining halls and a kitchen. It stands where the old St. Mary's once stood. The City of Grand Island closed a block of West Division Street and granted it to the Cathedral for a parking lot. The Cathedral had not, per se, had a parking lot in the past.

St. Mary's Cathedral continues to grow and change with the love and hard work of its devoted parishioners.